'Pac-Man Remix' (iPhone)

The iPhone and iPod Touch have been privy to some exceptional retro remakes of late. Space Invaders: Infinity Gene and The Secret Of Monkey Island: Special Edition are both fine examples of reimagined classics worthy of their genre-defining originals. Now another nostalgic rehash lands on the App Store in the shape of Pac-Man Remix, but does this new title honour its legendary forefather, or is it merely another cheap chomp-fest?

Few gaming franchises are steeped in as much history as Namco's Pac-Man. Debuting in Japanese arcades in 1979, the game was the first to offer players an alternative to primitive space shooters, such as Asteroids and Defender, and early sports sims. It quickly became a global phenomenon, appealing to both genders, and eventually garnered a higher brand awareness than any other video game among American consumers.

The pill-popping protagonist has inspired myriad licensed spinoffs, a barrel full of bootlegs and even an animated television series over the years. There is certainly a strong argument that Namco is guilty of pimping the character out, slapping his nametag on ropy 3-D platformers and even hurling him into its arcade adaptation of Super Mario Kart. Fortunately, its latest attempt at reinventing the franchise has been given the care and attention that it deserves.

With Pac-Man Remix the developers have stuck religiously close to formula, and that's what makes it work so well. Previous attempts to bring the character into the 21st Century have often proved contrived, but Namco's latest re-envisioning has everything that made the original capable of devouring pockets-full of change, and more.

Unlike the 1979 version, which consisted of a single maze, Remix is divided into six zones comprising five levels each. The first stage will look familiar to anyone who has played the original, but the comfort zone ends once all of those dots have been devoured.

So many bells and whistles are gradually integrated as you progress through the game. The primary mechanics are the same - negotiating mazes, gobbling up dots and avoiding those pesky ghosts - but new power-ups and stage-specific gadgets add variety and depth to this offering.

A short cut-scene precedes each level to demonstrate how the new abilities are executed within each environment. In addition to those table-turning power pills, players now have access to dash and jumping power-ups - which serve to disorientate pursuing spooks and ward off their attacks - as well as teleporters, lifts and tunnels to access other areas.

While you might think that boss battles have no place in a Pac-Man game, these are also well integrated, occurring at the end of each zone. The bosses themselves are usually giant ghosts of various descriptions, which break down into smaller ones when a power pill is collected. The object is to devour them all before they regroup, while warding off the enemy's unique attack pattern.

There are two controller options to choose from, a virtual d-pad or touch-screen guidance. Both methods are serviceable, but no more than that. Neither feels significantly more accurate than the other, so it's down to personal preference, but both can feel somewhat unresponsive at times. When you are required to make a sharp turn with a spook on your tail, the player comes off badly a little too often. This will cost you a few lives during later stages, but given that levels are short, and continues infinite, it doesn't take away from the overall playability as much as you might expect.

There are three difficulty modes, which adds a little extra longevity, along with the option to choose how many lives you have, although the inclusion of infinite continues makes the latter redundant. On the whole, though, it's not a particularly challenging game, and seems more geared towards the casual crowd. Online support is also sorely lacking, and would have provided players with that extra incentive to keep coming back.

In terms of presentation, the game is pleasing on the eye, full of lavish colour and functional pseudo-3D. This is coupled with a quirky musical score, which includes a reworking of that legendary theme tune, but the sound effects begin to grate after a while.

Overall, Pac-Man Remix accomplishes what it sets out to do, offering a fresh perspective on an all-time classic. All of the hallmarks of the original are here, along with plenty of surprises that enhance the experience, rather than dilute it. Serious gamers are unlikely to find any challenge here, or a reason to come back after completion, but at £3.49, you certainly get your money's worth.

DIGITAL SPY, PART OF THE HEARST UK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK
Digital Spy participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.